He may be running the whole company, but Nike boss Mark Parker hasn’t lost his design touch.
The Beaverton, Ore.-based company president and CEO, who once worked as a sneaker designer, put his stamp on the latest tribute style to retired NBA player Kobe Bryant.
The Kobe 11 Muse Pack, available in limited quantities beginning May 26 on Nike’s SNKRS app, boasts small details reflecting the black mamba snake.
The company said Parker brought reptilian details to life on the shoe, such as in the style’s reworked Flyknit pattern and laces to the shoe’s underbelly.
“Even though he has a large business to run, Mark still takes time to mentor me,” Bryant said in a statement.
The retired Los Angeles Laker, who played his last NBA game on April 13, has worked with Parker since the launch of the Nike Huarache 2K4, the shoe Bryant wore after signing with Nike in 2003.
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“Mark has created an environment of creativity,” Bryant said. “He strikes me as a quiet guy, but I think he’s very pensive. And he enjoys thought and working through situations.”
Parked helped develop the style with top designers Tinker Hatfield and Eric Avar.
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